Barnes and Noble Hosts Holiday Book Drive For Local Charity

Jodi Stone’s mission is to draw attention to a very serious disease that’s affected her and several generations of her family. Stone, a Lithia resident and mother of three young daughters, lost her mother to Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) almost three years ago, and has been working diligently to raise funds for research and awareness ever since. Stone also has PKD, and her grandmother also died of the disease.
The disease causes cysts to form on the kidneys, leading the kidneys to become enlarged and eventually ending in kidney failure, dialysis or transplantation. As part of this foundation, Stone established The Karen N. Henderson Memorial Library where people can donate old and new books for revolving libraries in six area dialysis facilities.
“As I took my mother to dialysis in the last few months of her life, I realized that there was a need for reading material in the waiting rooms of the dialysis centers,” explained Stone. “People can be in the waiting rooms for hours while their loved ones complete their dialysis.”
KarensKause is partnering with Barnes and Noble at the Brandon Town Center for the month of December for its annual holiday book-drive. “Barnes and Noble has chosen KarensKause as their sole charity this holiday season,” said Stone. “Customers will be able to donate books as well as having their purchases gift-wrapped for free.”
In addition, Stone is also publishing her third children’s e-book titled The Little Witches Hat. Currently available for purchase through amazon.com, proceeds of the sale are donated to KarensKause.
For more information about KarensKause, please visit www.karenskause.org or stop by Barnes and Noble located at 122 Brandon Town Center in Brandon, this holiday season.

Kelly Legg has been writing for the Osprey Observer as a freelance writer for three years, and has recently taken on the role of managing editor for the Christian Voice newspaper. She graduated in 1989 from Florida Southern College with a B.S. in Communications. She currently resides in Riverview with her husband and three children.